Regular monthly Blackmore Vale property commentary column in the Blackmore Vale from Susie and Brad the North Dorset Team at Meyers
Goodness me what a month this has been with everyone rushing to complete on their house purchases before the end of the Stamp Duty holiday deadline of 30th June. This months ‘Voice of an Agent’ is a big ‘shout-out’ to all the solicitors, lenders, brokers, estate agents, removal companies and clients themselves, who have pulled together really hard to make sure dreams are not shattered by missing out on this once in a lifetime opportunity. Communication and teamwork has been exemplary over these crucial few weeks and we at Meyers are very grateful for all the hard work that has been going on between all the ancillary services associated with the house buying and selling process.
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But what happens now? There are STILL savings to be made on Stamp Duty with the basic level being increased from 1st July through to the end of September to allow purchasers to receive a nill Stamp Duty on the first £250,000 of their next home purchase. Will this help the market to settle a little bit? We certainly hope so; allowing more families to find their perfect new beginning is what Estate Agency is all about and with housing stock numbers struggling to meet demand, it will be a welcome relief to see more houses becoming available for purchase.
What can shift this change for the better? In our view, it is a return to the old ways now (please) of allowing prospective home movers to view houses when they themselves are not currently on the market. CV-19 restrictions made this impossible with all buyers being required to be ‘proceedable’ and this contributed massively to the ‘chicken and egg’ scenario with those who had sold their own homes, racing to secure their next one. This in turn, fuelled houses to sell in excess of their asking prices and in so doing, largely precluded the chances of those who have a mortgage and favoured the pure ‘cash buyer’.
Details of the new Stamp Duty levels are below for you and as ever, we at Meyers will be delighted to answer any questions you may have on how we can help you with your next home move.
From 1st July 2021 to 30th September 2021 inclusive
£0-£250,000 = 0%
£250,000-£925,000 = 5%
£925,000-£1,500,000 = 10%
£1,500,000 and above = 12%
From 1st October 2021 the Stamp Duty Rates will return to normal so will be:
£0-£125,000 = 0%
£125,000-£250,000 = 2%
£250,000-£925,000 = 5%
£925,000-£1,500,000 = 10%
£1,500,000 and above = 12%
For First Time Buyers, you still won’t pay Stamp Duty on the first purchase up to the value of £300,000 so are exempt of Stamp Duty for the first £300,000 of any purchase.
Gillingham families are in fear of using a community skate park due to escalating anti-social behaviour.
Social media groups connected to the town show comments from upset and angry parents whose children and even themselves have been the target of threatening behaviour. Reports include verbal and racist abuse, aggressiveness, littering and the smoking of illegal substances by a group of young people frequenting the skatepark near RiversMeet sports facility in Hardings Lane.
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Zoe Bell, mother of two from Marnhull, told the digital Blackmore Vale: “My daughter Charlotte, who is only 10, experienced extreme verbal abuse when she went to the park. She was so upset.
“There’s so much bad language being spoken and a gang play really loud music with foul lyrics. It just puts you off taking your children there. Since my daughter was verbally abused, we just won’t go.
“Even as an adult, I’m scared as these troublemakers don’t pay any attention to other adults who have challenged them. It’s appalling that so many well-behaved children are unable to use the park because of these kids.”
Reports mention children as young as 12 behaving aggressively towards adults who challenge them, preventing others skateboarding by sitting on the ramps smoking and watching porn on their phones with graphic commentary. Some adults declined to speak to us for fear of reprisal and blame lack of parental control.
According to David Sidwick, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, anti-social behaviour, (noisy dogs, noisy neighbours, litter, vandalism, public drunkenness – in short, anything that makes people’s lives a misery) – is a growing issue across the county.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time visiting sites across the county which have been affected by this problem, to learn more about it and what I can do to provide more support. Where possible this has been in person or alternatively virtual, including recently speaking with Gillingham residents.
“I’m aware of the skate park issue as are the police. I know many residents across Dorset are concerned about anti-social behaviour and I’m determined that this will be tackled.’’
Responsibility for dealing with anti-social behaviour (ASB), is shared between a number of agencies as well as the police and local councils. This creates delays and confusion. Dorset Police www.dorset.police.uk/help-advice-crime-prevention/safety-in-your-community/asb/ state they are aware that victims can feel helpless, bounced from one agency to another and then back again.
To combat this problem, changes have been made to the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act (2014), placing the victim at the heart of the response to ASB and giving police and other agencies flexibility in their response.
This led to the development of the Dorset Community Trigger – Dorset Council, giving victims and communities the right to request a review of their case to “bring agencies together to take a joined up, problem-solving approach to find a solution to anti-social behaviour.”
Any Dorset-based resident, community or business may use the Community Trigger to request a review of their case. The community may be a loose group of affected residents or a formal community group such as a residents’ association.
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For over four years, Gillingham Town Council has funded the Outreach team from Gillingham Rendezvous, helping local young people find solutions to issues they may have.
Newly appointed Mayor of Gillingham, Councillor Paul Harris said: “We recognise that some recent behaviour at the park has upset parents of younger children. We can approach this in a variety of ways. Solutions are found through interacting with our young people, understanding the motivation behind their behaviour and what they see as the solution.”
“Rendezvous Gillingham has helped many young people and has a presence around the town, including at Hardings Park. We’re also working in partnership with the local police, specifically our local PCSOs, who work closely with the community ensuring that, where appropriate and proportionate, police action is taken.
Councillor Harris confirmed that CCTV is provided at Hardings Park and footage is available for the police to draw on as necessary.
“In general, our young people in Gillingham respect each other and we don’t suffer from excesses of other anti-social behaviour, such as graffiti, that occur in other towns.”
However, problems at the skate park have been going on for a long time with perpetrators largely unchallenged, as Zoe Bell explained:
“These aren’t isolated incidents. There have been numerous issues over 18 months. It’s so sad that a really great community facility is ruined by a handful of kids who just don’t know how to behave.”
Along with other Gillingham residents, she would like to see regular police presence at the park and believes incidents should be reported to nearby Gillingham School, urging others to do the same: “We need to keep reporting to the police and the local school. Although the kids causing problems aren’t in uniform, the school may know who they are.”
Head Teacher of Gillingham School Paul Nicholson said: “It’s most unfortunate and upsetting that a small minority of young people, whether they attend our school or not, continue to involve themselves in anti-social behaviour. We will continue to work closely with partners in our wider community to address these behaviours.
He added:’’ At Gillingham School we’re proud of the role that we play in our community.
Young people during the pandemic, perhaps more than any other generation, have been a force for good and an inspiration to many of us.
“The vast majority of our students make an outstanding contribution, often involving themselves with local charities and volunteer work. We continue to remind all students of their responsibility to make a positive contribution, indeed one of our core values is ” to treat everyone with kindness and dignity.”
Dorset PCC David Sidwick added: “Working closely with Dorset Police, with local authorities and with other partners, I am absolutely committed to clamping down on anti-social behaviour, and this will form a key element of the Police and Crime Plan I am currently developing. I will be looking to address the short term need and the roots causes of the problem. Residents deserve this and we will tackle it.”
TO GO IN PULL-OUT BOX? How to report anti-social behaviour – advice from Dorset Police
Don’t turn a blind eye to anti-social behaviour. If you see it, report it.
You can report anti-social behaviour online here or by calling Dorset Police on 101. In an emergency, where life is at risk or a crime is being committed, always dial 999.
If we are not able to deal with your complaint directly ourselves, we will give you advice on which local agency can help and how to contact them. We work very closely with our partners to deal with anti-social behaviour, including all local authorities.
No matter how you report anti-social behaviour, all complaints are treated as confidential. You don’t have to worry about your identity being revealed.
Our regular column in which you discover the faces and stories behind the pub sign. This month we’ve been chatting to Rhiannon & Greg who run The Antelope Inn at Hazelbury
How did you end up at The Antelope?
Greg and I found ourselves running The Antelope while on a travelling sabbatical that was grounded due to Covid. After a year into our travels (although originally from here, we were living in South Africa) we came to the UK to spend Christmas with my mother and our daughter Hannah up North, just before the pandemic hit.
During the pandemic we decided to help our friend Alasdair Warren (whose family have lived in Dorset for over 200 years) with renovations of his collection of beautiful pubs here in Dorset. Loving The Antelope, we decided it would be a fun challenge to run it! Hannah (and her cat Pax) joined us in the adventure of pub life and as a family we have been warmly welcomed into the village. Alasdair’s pubs (including The Elm Tree in Langton Herring, Pymore Inn in Bridport and World End in Almer) have all been beautifully restored to their former selves, with close attention to detail while maintaining the period of the building.
What’s your favourite local place to visit on an afternoon off?
We take our breaks from the pub with lovely walks (Bulbarrow is a favourite) , catch ups with friends in the village, coffee and cake at the King Stag Coffee House and the occasional lunch at The Gaggle of Geese or The Elms. On rare days off we llike to visit neighbouring towns – especially Sherborne and Shaftesbury – and learn as much about Dorset as we can.
Tell us about your pandemic
Lock down here at The Antelope was very productive! We were decorating, maintaining and we reupholstered in our Skittle alley. We did manage to have a socially distanced Christmas market in our skittle alley, which we hope to do again this year with less restrictions.
Since opening back up this year, we have seen many people, both local and holiday makers and many furry friends, return to our beautiful garden and pub.
What’s been your biggest challenge since taking over?
For us it’s been encouraging locals back to the pub who have not visited for many years due to the fact that it was primarily a wet pub with little or no option of food. We have been encouraged by the return of families and locals who are enjoying our tapas menu, great burgers and weekly added specials.
What part of the pub is your absolute favourite?
The Antelope was built in the 1700s, originally as a combined dairy farm, brewery and Ale house. Thankfully the Ale House part stayed! It is full of character. The Snug is a special space which we all love… but I have to be honest, the bathrooms are gorgeous and most people comment on them! The garden is also one of our favourite places in the pub.
Which dish is your most popular?
Our change to a tapas menu this year has been successful and we are seeing people return for their favourites, especially our sticky chicken wings and boerewors, a traditional South African sausage. Our burgers with homemade relish and locally sourced meat are also very popular and our homemade deserts and scones are not to be missed!
So what’s next – do you have big plans on the horizon?
Beginning of this month we started afternoon music in the garden and have artists lined up for 24th of July and 8th of August as well as an Open Mic evening on the 7th of July. We are also waiting for the sun, so we can get back outside and bring back our barbeque (braai) evenings!
We have all been told how wonderful the pedestrianisation of Shaftesbury High Street is and how people are now flocking there to shop. We have seen pictures of the crowded street full of people. But how about on a normal day? The lack of parking due to the closure is now effecting the town. I have witnessed tourists trying to park in the Bell St car park and driving off when there are no spaces. I have been asked by tourists where they can park as they have tried all the car parks they can find in the town. The town council stress how much safer people feel in the High Street with it being pedestrianised. The trouble is that the High Street is only partially pedestrianised. Busses, delivery vehicles and even private cars are driving through the high street in both directions. Far faster than the 5mph allowed. It is only a matter of time before someone is going to be lulled into a false sense of security and knocked down and killed. I believe this has already happened in Salisbury. I am aware of a petition that was submitted to STC which contained 40 signatures from businesses against pedestrianisation. According to STC 80% of businesses are for it. Are there really 200 businesses in the High Street?
I know of a business based in Semley who used to regularly come up to collect lunch from the Salt Cellar. But due to the pedestrianisation not any more. Helen from the Baguette bar has also lost business from the industrial estates. I’m not particularly against or for the pedestrianisation, for me it’s just an inconvenience for my clients and staff. I have had an office opposite the Town Hall for the last 21 years so I have got a bit of experience on how the High Street works. However what I am concerned about is the way STC are conducting their surveys and their ‘findings’ Pedestrianisation is not something to be taken lightly. Full and proper consultation needs to be completed by an independent body. The residents of Bell Street and even Gold Hill and St James need to be consulted, as they are all being effected by increased traffic flows and parking problems.
Reports commissioned by STC over the last 20 years have all said Shaftesbury is short of parking spaces. Pedestrianisation removes 200 one hour parking slots per day. Leaving Shaftesbury up to 500 parking slots per day short. And that’s according to one of the reports commissioned by STC!
Pedestrianisation may be a popularist policy. But without further consideration of the potentially dire consequences it should not happen. Adrian Thompson Shaftesbury
There are many views about the pedestrianisation of Shaftesbury High Street but there is a clear majority of some 87% in favour of it which includes disabled people. Councillors have listened to comments and have reduced the pedestrian period allowing car access for longer. If disabled people need access to banks or shops after 4pm when the shop or bank might close then that shop or bank has a duty to open to provide the disabled customers with the service.
At the end of the day the decision is not with the Town Council nor do we have a decision about the final details as these matters lie with Dorset Council.
I suggested the council lease and operate a golf buggy to transport people from the disabled parking, like the airport buggies, however covid regulations made it impractical. It is an option though you can imagine the cost over a year!
Some people expect to drive and park outside the shop door, which the proposal would allow for 25% of the working day, which you cannot do at West Quay or other shopping centres Cllr Philip Proctor Shaftesbury
I’m really enjoying the quality of the photos in your magazine – do you have any plans for a print version one day? F Greeves, Marnhull
I’m afraid not Fiona – we deeply believe in the environmental benefits of a digital publication, plus at over 100 pages with a strong focus on high resolution beautiful imagery, each magazine would cost over £10. Currently, in order to make print viable we would have to sacrifice content and quality – neither of which we wish to do!
I wonder if readers have noticed that the minute England won the match against Germany the sun came out and has stayed shining. Do you think this is just a coincidence or are they linked? You appear to have good writers on your mag – what about an investigation? VB, Shaftesbury
I’ve taken advice from an expert on the England team, who is also an expert on lounging about doing nothing in the sunshine while moaning, and my 18 year old son assures me that it’s definitely linked. He says ‘it’s the hand of God blessing the righteous.’ – Ed
I’m fairly new to this area and I am very happily surprised at the confidence Dorset people have: reacting to the lockdowns by starting new businesses, extending their business and being incredibly community-minded. I’m pretty sure we’ll be a more harmonious and prosperous society post-Covid. It’ll take a while but we’ll get there. One of your funnier columnists wrote a piece about it in a previous issue, quoting the economic views of ‘Professor’ Noddy Holder, the singer of Slade. It was amusing but also accurate, in my view.Government has got used to spending big – when tax revenues return (all forecasts predict it will be sooner, not later) I hope and believe that they will continue to think big. W Smith, Shaftesbury
I was amazed to read about the retired RAF pilot who served in the Falklands. What an incredibly brave and skilled man – and what heroes we have quietly living in our midst. Sally B, Sturminster Newton
Sally, they’re not living all that ‘quietly’ as you will read if you glance at our follow-up article on a ‘Famous flier ‘annoys’ BV Magazine journalist’ here… Ed
I live in Okeford Fitzpaine, not far from the old dairy site and the houses that were featured in the last ‘Then & Now’ column. How fascinating it was, still within living memory for some. I felt rather sad the next day, walking down the street and remembering those who were once there. Lucy P, Okeford Fitzpaine
To get a birthday card from the Queen (my father in Law is 100, an absolute miracle – as you’ll read below) you’ve got to download a form from the Anniversaries Office at Buckingham Palace and send it back by post.
Kae posted the completed form on a Tuesday. By mid afternoon Wednesday she got an email from the Palace (not personally from Her Maj, I note, which suggests a woeful slackening off from official duties from the monarch) saying the old guy will get a card from Queenie.
‘That’s the first I’ve ever delivered,’ said the postie on The Day, gazing with reverence at the stately blue envelope bearing the Queen’s coat of arms (with rather stern warnings on the back should anyone dare to impede the envelope reaching its lawful recipient ‘on the day it must arrive’).
We’d arranged for the mayor to come round. That was funny. Her office said ‘the Mayor’s car will arrive at exactly 1.30pm…’. And at exactly 1.30pm a worker’s van drew up next to FiL’s drive. I went out and asked the driver if the Mayor was in the vehicle. ‘Not the last time I looked,’ he said, warily watching me.
And then a chauffeur-driven Ford Focus (north Bournemouth clearly facing a challenging budget) drew up and out stepped Her Worship in full regalia.
I’d sent her a resumé of FiL’s life, she’d obviously read it and this delightful woman talked to him with great humour for half an hour. Bearing in mind she had a tough council session shortly afterwards this was exceedingly generous of her.
‘That was kind of you,’ I said as I escorted her to her ‘limousine’. ‘God, I loved it. What an amazing man,’ she replied, ‘it’s the best part of my job.’
The irony of the FiL reaching a century is that when he was 23 he was an engineer (acting sergeant, all the responsibility without the pay) with the 8th Army, fighting in Italy. His job was to crawl into German held territory to assess which bridges could take the weight of a 33 ton Sherman tank. It was a bloody affair as ‘Jerry’ festooned such locations with booby traps, mines, shelling and snipers.
He and his troop expected to be killed or wounded every hour of every day. They all had written farewell letters to be sent to their mums and dads when (not if) they were killed. He lost a lot of good mates.
At one stage he was up against a particularly vicious German troop, with a reputation for shooting injured or captured allied soldiers, but off he went, did his job and when he returned to report, his colonel said, ‘I didn’t expect to see you again, Sergeant.’
I’m guessing this officer did not enjoy a sparkling post-war career as a motivational speaker.
But, the FiL is still around 77 years later. When we left he said, ‘we’ll do it again next year.’
When you get stung!
We’ve been waiting for what seems a year for summer and as I write this it has arrived. Hoo-bleeding-sun-ray.
Slight prob, though: bees and wasps.
I’ve always been fine about bees. Very useful, attractive personalities.
But I’m allergic to them. I found this out when gardening two years ago and was stung three times. Began to feel a bit odd but ignored it for about 10-15 minutes. Then I phoned 111.
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Two ambulances and a medic car screeched to a halt outside our cottage. The lovely lady on 111 had told me to crawl to the front door ‘do NOT stand up’ and unlock it and kept me talking while my throat swelled so I could no longer breathe and I went into a coma.
Next thing, I had been filled with fast-acting substances and was hooked to a oxygen tank and blue-lighted to Dorch hospital.
I came to as we were approaching Dorch and the paramedics told me I was ‘probably a minute away from death, maybe less.’
I owe my life to these fantastic people. By the time I was wheeled from the ambulance to ICU they were making me laugh so much with their tales that I was again finding it hard to breathe.
The docs told me that if I get stung again, don’t hang about, use the EpiPen (CORRECT) and dial 999.
Apparently, one gets more allergic to bees and wasps as you get older, so if you are stung and feel odd, get on to emergency services immediately without thinking you’re wasting their time, as I did. I delayed phoning and nearly paid the price. I was diplomatically bollocked by the Doc for not phoning earlier.
Hard to fight back when you’re weezing on a stretcher in ICU.
Talking of wasps…
In the village shop where I used to live there was a hand written card in the window saying, ‘Wasps Nest Destroyed. £20. Senior Citizens £15!
Perhaps a mistake?
And on the subject of misreading, there’s a vegan Thai restaurant in Dorch called B8 Café off Trinity Street.
You pronounce the name bait (B Eight) which is London street slang for something attractive and unusual.
And ‘bait’ is a good name as the food looks absolutely fantastic – see their Facebook Page.
Their website says it is still open for take-aways but the restaurant is remaining closed’ then they add, ‘we apologise for the incontinence.’
My wife says they’ve done it on purpose so they get talked about. Seems to have worked.
More good food
My local, The Antelope in Hazelbury Bryan, has introduced a mouth-watering inexpensive tapas menu. We popped in on a Saturday not intending to eat as we had a meal planned for the evening. Rhiannon showed us the menu. And we ate. Despite getting second degree burns from the stuffed jalapeno peppers it was terrific.
Antelope Hazelbury Bryan – July’s Meet your Local in the B;ackmore Vale
My wife ordered fries with hers. Rhiannon’s hub came out to see if we enjoyed it. ‘The fries were amazing,’ Kae said. ‘They’re triple-cooked,’ Gregg said proudly.
I just couldn’t resist it. ‘If you’d done them properly first time round, you’d only have to cook them once,’ I said. I just can’t not say these things.
Gregg fixed me with ‘the look.’ He had a mask on, but I’m sure he was smiling. Sort of sure.
What is a ‘Gentleman?’
‘What’s the definition of a gentleman,’ I was asked by Pete, who runs The Old Chapel stores in Buckland Newton.
Without waiting for an answer, he gleefully supplied the answer, ‘it’s a man who can play the bagpipes, but doesn’t.’ Then Pete chuckled at his own wit.
I did know that but thought ‘let Pete have his fun.’ It’s a kindness, really.
Dolly’s best quote
I teach guitar and had a new lovely new little student, a girl aged 10 who wanted to play the Taylor Swift song, Shake it Off. It struck me that these are the same opening chords as Jolene, by the great Dolly Parton.
The little girl’s mum and gran were in my Studio too, so I told them Dolly’s best quote. ‘It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.’
I was so gratified by their laughter.
She did mind really!
A few years ago I started a chess club which met every Tuesday evening in Mappowder village hall.
If you don’t know this building, think of the Taj Mahal, Got the beauty of that place firmly pictured in your mind? Good.
Now, think of the dilapidated shed round the back where they keep the buckets and mops. Mapps village hall is a bit like that shed.
But, it’s a very friendly club (it’s referred to as ‘The Charming Chess Club’ check-out the FaceBook page), and that’s what I aimed for, not one of those serious chess clubs which uses clocks and where chatter is frowned upon and people dread ‘the league table’.
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I insist on only two rules. Allow your opponent as much time as she/he likes to think of a move; and once you’ve touched a piece for a move, you’re committed – you can’t go back (a good rule as it helps concentration).
We welcome everyone, beginners, those who haven’t played since school, any age, gender and we have a good turnout (ruined by Covid, obv) including a lovely woman, Lisa, and her partner, Rick, who come down from Gillingham (Lisa insists on calling the knights ‘horseys,’ which tickles me, Rick gives me a weary and pained look). Lisa chatters away through the game and she can be relied upon to make one crucial mistake every game she plays, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. This is generally followed by unlady-like oaths and a lot of amusement from the other players and we all have a cup of tea and a biscuit (which I used to make, and became quite good at – I’d flavour them with vanilla and orange).
Lisa lost every match (usually two or three each chess night) for a year but continued as cheerfully enthusiastic and we all loved her for it.
Then she played a game which was very exciting. She hadn’t made a mistake and was two moves away from checkmate. By this time all the players were gathered round this game holding their breath and praying for her.
And she won – the entire assembled cheered, clapped and hugged her.
And Lisa burst into tears.
Meat is murder
One evening at chess, showing little interest in the game, a player and I were talking about Hitler (no, me neither).
And of the murderous dictator, Ash said, ‘I went right off him when I heard he was vegetarian.’
I laughed so much that I buggered up my next move and lost the game (he’d have beaten me anyway). Lisa, who was with us, chattering away, was delighted.
The famous German sense of irony
I spent a week in the rather beautiful German city of Hanover, early in my journalist career. I was provided with a very nice interpreter (which was hilarious as everyone I interviewed spoke betterer English than me).
One evening, over dinner, we were discussing popular German names and, out of the blue, Gabrielle came out with, ‘The name Adolf is not very popular.’
Almost spraying her with riesling, I gazed at her in astonishment trying to find any sign of irony but she was just stating a fact.
‘I wonder why that is,’ I said (with heavy theatricallity), and she just shook her head as if it was an unfathomable mystery.
What a little tanker!
Many years ago when I had a birthday coming up, Kae asked what I’d like to do and I said, ‘Look inside a tank with an expert’ (mid-life crisis).
She phoned Bovington Tank Museum, explained what she wanted and the receptionist got through to a middle-manager who listened and put Kae through to the boss.
The message had got confused.
‘Mrs Palmer,’ said the boss, ‘I understand you’d like us to arrange a birthday treat.’
‘Yes please,’ Kae said.
‘How old is the little lad?’
’Forty three,’ Kae replied.
She had to pull the phone away from her ear as laughter exploded out of the earpiece.
And the message still had not come through when we turned up at the agreed time. An ex-tanker in overalls was at the desk to greet us, ‘Mr and Mrs Palmer,’ he said, looking around and spreading his hands downwards as if to say, ‘and where is the little scamp?’
Kae and I looked around too, wondering what he meant until it dawned.
‘It’s me,’ I said, at which he manfully hid his amusement.
But at the end of the tour, he still gave me an Airfix tank kit he’d carefully wrapped as a gift. So kind. We bought him lunch at the museum’s canteen, he told me about his army career, and we had a wonderful time.
When we left I thanked him for the tank kit and said (without looking him in the eye), ‘I’ll give it to my nephew.’
Took me ages to assemble that tank.
An awkward conversation?
The last issue of your digital BV magazine carried a fascinating story of the RAF’s top scoring fighter pilot from the Falklands war.
The pilot, David Morgan, met up with one of the Argentine pilots, Hector Sanchez, and they became close friends. Hector and his wife stayed with David and family, and David introduced them to scrumpy. It was a great success .
This happened a lot after WWII when RAF and German fighters met to reminisce. I wonder how the first few conversations went and I’d guess a bit like this – a mixture of English desire to avoid any unpleasantness versus German directness:
RAF pilot: …err, you know the err.. war, you know, the war started by Hitl….err that bloke with the ‘tache, the war that you err flew your very nice plane in.
German pilot: It was a very nice plane, ya.
RAF: Well, you remember that day when you were err…
German: Shot down?
RAF: err…yes.
German: By you.
RAF: Errm, was it me? (Pretends to search memory). It was wasn’t it? I’d err forgotten.
German: I remember it very clearly. The afternoon of June 8th, 1940. Yes. I do remember that afternoon.
RAF: Good lord, what a memory you have, ha ha ha! I’d forget my own head if it wasn’t on my shoulders.
German: And after you shot me down, you shot down my colleague, Hans.
RAF: Did I? Oh, yes, I do remember something like that errm, well, sorry about all that. Nothing personal. Fancy a pint?
German: Donner und blitzen, I thought you’d never ask.
Planes at Compton Abbas airfield
David now flies his little plane from Compton Abbas airfield, which has an excellent and well-priced restaurant with great views (and so it should, it’s the highest private airfield in England).
Last time I visited I did suggest to the lovely server that maybe on the restaurant menu they should have more fitting food for an airfield, such as Barbequed Wings.
If she did find that funny she hid it well.
I tried again, ‘Bomb Bay Duck?’
Still didn’t quite get the laugh it deserved. Or any laugh.
I played my trump card, ‘Steak & Aileron Pie?’
Shaking her head, she gave me a pitying look.
Kae said to her, ‘you’ve heard it all before, haven’t you?’
Ready to share your local produce with the county?! If you are a Dorset-based farmer, grower, fisherman, or food or drink producer, this year’s Love Local Trust Local Food & Drink Awards are now open for entries!
What is Love Local Trust Local?
Love Local Trust Local was founded by fifth generation farming family, the Cossins’ in Tarrant Valley. Founder Barbara Cossins is passionate that farmers are represented. The label plans to educate the consumers on how to trust food labelling, where to look, what it all really means and why shopping local matters.
Created by farmers and producers, for farmers and producers, what sets these awards apart is that they are designed purely to celebrate the work that goes into our local food production!
Photo: Barbara & Team at the launch of this years Love Local Trust Local Food & Drink Awards 2021
The Awards
The second year of the Love Local Trust Local Food & Drinks Awards features 12 categories, with a total of 18 awards for the taking! From categories such as bakery, meat, fish and suchlike, through to conservation and sustainability, and innovation and diversification there is ample chance to get recognised.
Entrants must operate from their Dorset base, sourcing any ingredients from within a 30-mile radius. The team at Love Local want to find out what sets you apart, and why your practice truly stands out from the crowd. This is a chance for Dorset food and drink producers to really shout about what you do, why you do it and how you do it!
Get Involved
The Love Local Trust Local Awards are supported by sponsors who not only champion the awards and comprise the judging panel. This is one of the most unique ways to get involved with the local food and drink producing community, tasting some of the best food and drink Dorset has to offer. Get in touch to get involved!
To support the Love Local Trust Local Food and Drink Awards 2021, you can follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, for all the latest news and updates. You can also pop on over to the Rawston Farm Butchery & Shop to purchase your tea towel or car sticker to show your support for the cause.
To enter this year’s awards, click here. The team at Love Local look forward to learning more about the best of Dorset food and drink for 2021!
Chickens are quite easy to keep and make good first time pets.They need to be let out of their house in the morning and shut in in the evening. They need constant access to fresh water and will need feeding with a specific complete chicken food.
They can also have treats such as vegetables but must not be fed kitchen scraps. You will need to completely clean out your chicken house at least once a week.
Chickens spend most of their day scratching around looking for things to eat, so be prepared for the area where they are kept to get muddy in wet weather.
What do I need to keep chickens at home?
• A secure hen house with a nest box and perches.
• A secure garden or run.
Can you give Glenda her Forever Home?
Hello, my name is Glenda and I am between 1-2 years old. If you are interested in providing me with my Forever Home and can provide all the things I need listed above, please call 01929 480474 and have a chat with the humans caring for me. I have 19 other ex-caged friends also looking for a fresh start.
You can find me and my friends in Dorset. Please use the contact details below to find out more: Tel: 01929 480474 Email: [email protected]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!…yes, people usually say that at Christmas, but for us at Thorngrove, it really does ring true as we move deep in to Summer! We see the culmination of results from earlier planting, and there’s no getting around it, this time of year is the most diverse when it comes to choices for your garden in terms of flowers and their colour. The Roses are of course taking centre stage right now, but the variety on display with the bedding plants, in the glasshouses, and the shrubs.
Thorngrove
We often see a huge surge in demand from customers as they take advantage of the good weather, and especially given the new found appreciation for our gardens over the last year, now more than ever we have people coming to Thorngrove wanting advice on how they can make their garden space, baskets or planters the best they can possibly be. Our staff have also been working hard to fulfil orders from our larger customers, providing 100s of planters, baskets, and barrels for spaces in the local and wider communities. All meticulously put together by hand with the quality and expertise you can expect from our staff.
“Even though this can one of our busiest times of the year, I really enjoy it because there’s so much pride to be taken in seeing the plants leave the glasshouses and go out into the courtyard. Especially after the late arrival of the warmer weather. We had extra work to do to make sure we didn’t lose many plants to the extended period of cold weather we have in may” says Glasshouse assistant Diane Francis.
Chris Francis Thorngroves Glasshouse Manager
The hot weather did finally arrive which means the plant watering has increased on site. A huge undertaking when you consider the size of Throngrove. Don’t forget to water your own plants as they’ll be using water more. Every day if there’s been no rain, early in the morning or early evening are the most efficient times for this.
So as we say, it IS the most wonderful time of the year at Thrognrove, it’s all hands on deck. Stop by and see the results of out work for yourself, enjoy lunch at The Secret Garden Café, and say hello to staff who would love to hear about your Summer garden.
Thorngrove Garden Centre, Common Mead Lane, Gillingham, Dorset. SP8 4RE – 01747 822242
We have recently celebrated #ThankATeacherDay. This gives us all the opportunity to reflect upon those teachers who made the difference to our lives while we were at school and who helped direct us along our chosen paths.
It also allows me, both as your Member of Parliament but also as a parent to thank again the teachers and support staff in schools across North Dorset and local colleges who have so magnificently risen to the occasion and delivered learning and inspiration to our young people during the most challenging of circumstances of Covid. Many of us feared we might ‘lose a generation’ in educational terms. Any such fears can be put to rest.
Thinking back to my teachers I consider myself spoilt for choice. Mrs Lord and Mrs Watkins who fostered my love of history. Miss Fitzgerald, a fiery Socialist from Port Talbot who taught RE and with whom I debated our respective politics. Sister Cecily a nun so sweet and benign she made Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music seem positively wicked. But perhaps it was Mrs Driscoll my diminutive Mrs Pepperpot infant schoolteacher who identified me as being a ‘butterfly brain’. I would flit from one thing to another, to one end of the classroom to the next, poking my nose in, finding out what was going on, asking questions.
She told my parents that she was worried that I would never settle long enough to anything to see it through, and that I must ditch my scattergun approach for a more Exocet mindset.
I mention this because last week my eldest daughter Imogen asked me what the most important issue was to me in politics? It’s not as easy question as might first appear. I gave some consideration to my answer and replied that it was whatever was important to the person who contacted me at the time.
Now I realise that might sound an airy-fairy answer. There are of course things which are of intense importance and interest to me, but a MP is not an elected single issue pressure group but a representative of, and facilitator for, the views, needs and aspirations of all who are fortunate enough to call North Dorset home.
Let me give you an example; over recent weeks I have organised meetings with Ministers and constituents to discuss the export of fishing bait and the production of charcoal, met with our local NFU to discuss a wide range of farming issues, chaired a panel discussion on neurological services post Covid, visited the wonderful The Real Cure to hear about their recent expansion and future plans, volunteered at the Sturminster Vaccination Centre, visited Wyke School in Gillingham, taken part in a Climate Change discussion with residents of Alderholt, visited Blandford Town Council’s food waste reduction initiative, spoken to 30 constituents at Advice Surgeries, and hold a number of meetings regarding a proposed solar farm development. All this while trying to help the people of Northern Ireland by dint of my Chairmanship of the NI Select Committee.
Perhaps having a butterfly brain (I never did become a single issue Exocet) paid off – each of these varied issues were THE important issue to the people or organisations raising them with me, seeking my views or needing my help. Therefore, they had to be important to me. What I do know is that I can only do my job because of the abilities my teachers identified and fostered in me and encouraged me in.
Teachers find seeds and create plants of variety, beauty and utility. I give thanks for my teachers, my children’s’ teachers and all of those sculpting the futures of our next generation.
